All posts tagged Jessica Jackley

2010 Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit

by Tim Schraeder on 07/12/2010 in Notes with 20 Comments

In the past ten years I’ve attended over 30 different conferences. Yeah, crazy I know.

Having not attended college, conferences have served as a learning opportunity for me, and I’ve valued the opportunity I have to learn and grow by attending them.

While there are many great conferences out there, one I consistently look forward to is the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit.

I attended my first Leadership Summit in August of 2002. I’ll never forget Bill Hybels talking about “Courageous Leadership” and the fact that  “the local church is the hope of the world and its future rests in the hands of its leaders.” That moment marked me, gave me passion for the Church and began a leadership journey that continues today.

Leadership Summit delivers fresh insights from some the best speakers from both the religious and business communities to over 100,000 leaders around the globe.

The 2010 Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit is coming up August 5-6 and this year’s lineup includes:

  • Bill Hybels – Founder & Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church
  • Jim Collins – Best-selling author, nationally acclaimed business thinker
  • TD Jakes – Best-selling Author, Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House
  • Jack Welch – Best-selling Author, Former Chairman and CEO of General Electric
  • Andy Stanley – Senior Pastor, North Point Community Church
  • Christine Caine – Author and Director of Equip & Empower Ministries, Founder of The A21 Campaign
  • Tony Dungy – Winning Coach of 2007 Super Bowl, NBC Analyst
  • Zhao Xiao – Leading Chinese Ecnomist, Chairman of Cypress Leadership Institute, Professor, University of Science and Technology, Beijing, China
  • Blake Mycoskie – Founder and “Chief Shoe Giver” of TOMS Shoes
  • Terry Kelley – President and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates, Innovation Leaders and makers of GORE-TEX® Products
  • Daniel H. Pink – Best-selling author, Business thinker, Former White House speechwriter
  • Adam Hamilton – Founder and Senior Pastor, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
  • Jeff Manion – Senior Pastor, Ada Bible Church

And, I’m excited to let you know that this year I’ll be the official blogger for the Global Leadership Summit! I’ll be blogging notes from each session here on my blog and on the Willow Creek Association Blog.

There’s still time to register! Visit their website to find a satellite location near you.

Here’s some highlights from last year:

Thanks to the Willow Creek Association, you can download three of my favorite sessions from last year…

And, as a special giveaway this week, I’m giving away a copy of the 2009 Leadership Summit Team Edition DVD which includes the three talks above along with sessions featuring: Bill Hybels, Gary Hamel,  Dave Gibbons, Andrew Rugasira, Wess Stafford, David Gergen, Chip Heath and Dan Heath,  and Tony Blair.  [Retails at $299!]

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Tweet This: I just entered to win a copy of The 2009 Leadership Summit Team Edition DVD. Comment here and RT to enter: http://bit.ly/9L8NJp  #wcagls
  2. Comment Below: With your Twitter handle [so I can verify you did the first step] and share the speaker you are looking forward to hearing from the most this year.
  3. Check back at noon on Friday, July 16. I’ll announce the winner then!

Stay tuned and watch for notes August 5-6 from the 2010 Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit!

Catalyst 09 :: Jessica Jackley

by Tim Schraeder on 10/08/2009 in Catalyst 2009 with No comments

Jessica Jackley is a co-founder of Kiva.org, the world’s first peer-to-peer online microlending website. Kiva lets interent users lend as little as $25 to specific developing world entrepreneurs, providing affordable capital to help them start or expand a small business. Kiva has been one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history, connecting hundreds of thousands of people through lending across 150 countries.

Jessica first saw the power, beauty, and dignity of microfinance while working in rural East Africa with microenterprise development nonprofit Village Enterprise Fund on impact evaluation and program development. Sector-agnostic about social change, Jessica has worked for public, nonprofit and private organizations including Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Amazon.com, Potential Media, the International Foundation, World Vision, and others.

Jessica’s work with Kiva has been featured in a wide array of media and press including Oprah, the Today Show, CNN, BBC, NBC, ABC, PBS, NPR, the WSJ, NYTimes, the Economist, and more. Jessica speaks widely on microfinance and social entrepreneurship, and serves as a director on several boards related to microfinance development, including Opportunity International.

Jessica holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business with Certificates in Global Management and Public Management, and a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from Bucknell University.

Jessica is a trained yoga instructor, avid surfer, and poet.

  • A lot of her conceptions of poverty came from messages and images from not-for-profits and churches that had a goal of helping those in poverty.
  • Messages and stories perpetuated are those of sadness and suffering, which gets people to contribute.
  • The message about the poor should not always be based on sadness.
  • Compassion should move us to do something.
  • A lot of the emotion she encountered when she looked at poverty were guilt and shame.
  • Microfinance is financial services for the poor.
  • Microfinance is a way to engage with someone in poverty that doesn’t involve guilt or shame.
  • The basic idea was to be able to tell people’s stories.
  • Kiva lent $500,000 first year; $15 million second year; anticipating $100 million by 2010.
  • Money creates a false dichotomy between classes.
  • We need to have connections based out of dignity and hope.
  • Kiva launched in the USA recently.
  • We’re all equal – everyday we all have need.
  • We all have something to offer.
  • We need to truly believe in each other.

For more on Kiva & Jessica, check out my notes from Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit!

    Lead Where You Are

    by Tim Schraeder on 08/08/2009 in Leadership Summit 2009, Notes with 3 Comments

    I’ve been to the mountain… well, The Summit.

    This year’s Leadership Summit was fantastic. Thanks to all of you (well over 3,000!) who found your way to my blog. I guess I take good notes? [By the way, I'm still taking 'Notes for a Cause' donations to go to Kiva.org!]

    So I was at The Modern Wing at The Art Institute of Chicago today with a friend and overhead someone saying near the end of their trek through the galleries, “wow, I’m saturated…”

    I think that sums up how I feel right now. Absolutely saturated.

    There was so much information, inspiration and ideas that leapt out at me over the past couple of days and I’m still processing everything… but while it’s fresh, I thought I’d share a key thought or take-away I had from each session.

    • Bill Hybels’ first session, Leading in a New Reality, reminded me that I need to slow down and gently listen to God, even in the midst of the chaos of the world around me.
    • The panel discussion on Hiring, Firing, and Board Meltdowns challenged me to think of the kind of work culture we are creating at Park and how I, as a part of the team, am contributing.
    • Gary Hamel blew me away. There was so much he said, I don’t think I caught it all. But the one thing he did say that’s going to stick with me is that the Church is God’s plan for humanity and He has no “plan B.”
    • Tim Keller’s session, Leading People to the Prodigal God, was a sobering reminder to remember the true heart of the Gospel.
    • Jessica Jackley’s insight on the whole idea of co-creation totally excited me when thinking about new ideas and possibilities that are out there. It just starts be taking one, small step.
    • Harvey Carey didn’t have to do much to convince me that I just need to do something!
    • I could have listened to Dave Gibbons a lot longer, but I did get a copy of his book. I’m stoked to read more about his thoughts and insights on creating a Third Culture, a culture of adaptation.
    • Andrew Rugsira really challenged me to think differently about the continent of Africa and to not just look through the lens of compassion, but to also see the opportunity that is in the people there.
    • Wess Stafford… wow. What an amazing story. And how humbling to think that nothing is wasted, everything is redeemable.
    • David Gergen had tons of great insights but the one that stuck with me was the idea that who we are says a lot more about us than what we actually say.
    • The Heath Brothers were stellar, as usual. I’m going to really cherish their statement that “failure is oftentimes an early warning sign of success.”
    • Bono was great, too. I think the biggest challenge from him this year wasn’t so much about the HIV/AIDS as it was what he said about the Church. He said some things I think we really need to take to heart.
    • Tony Blair’s interview was way too short, but I think more than anything his reminder of what a privilege it is to be in leadership was something I needed to hear.
    • And although not a formal session, Bill Hybels’ closing remarks were a great way to end, reminding us that the little things are often the most important.

    So, after all that… what’s my final thought?

    I think the theme of this year’s conference says it all: lead where you are. No matter who you are, where you are, what you do, what you have or what you don’t have, God is calling you to do something. To lead where you are.

    In thinking through each of this year’s speakers, they were all the first to admit their flaws and shortcomings but also the first to admit that in order to make a difference, you have to be willing to take a risk and do something. Even in the midst of your own failures or at the risk of failure.

    I cannot think of a more exciting time and opportunity to be a part of the Church and to be a part of what God is doing in our generation. I’m so thankful for the experience of the Leadership Summit to remind me of the importance of the call to leadership, but more importantly, to remember first and foremost, before I do anything, I’m called to be a child of God.

    So how about you?

    What’s are your take-away’s from the Leadership Summit? What challenge are you going to face? Or what simple thing are you going to do differently? Would love to hear!

    A Leadership Case Study: Jessica Jackley and the KIVA Story

    by Tim Schraeder on 08/06/2009 in Leadership Summit 2009, Notes with No comments

    Jessica Jackley is co-founder of Kiva.org, the world’s first peer-to-peer online micro-lending website. Kiva.org allows internet users to lend as little as $25 to entrepreneurs in the developing world, providing affordable capital to start or expand a small business. In just three years Kiva has helped raise over $61 million and connected thousands of people across 120 countries. A graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Jackley’s work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show. She brings a fresh perspective on the personal nature of giving and how new generation leaders can innovate through technology.

    • Kiva.org started in 2005
    • Kiva has lent and repaid over $84 million dollars in four years.
    • “Humans are fundamentally better than banks.”
    • Kiva is the first person-to-person web based internet lending service.
    • Kiva.org will exceed $100 million dollars in loans by 2010.
    • Over 200,000 people in 183 countries have received loans.

    Early Days

    • Mom and dad were her greatest influence, convinced her she could do anything.
    • Her brother was her partner in adventure.
    • One of her heroines was Harriet the Spy… part anthropologist, part explorer.
    • Was in college when she attended her first Leadership Summit.
    • Her and her father would do their own “summits” and decide on a theme for the year.
    • She started to sense her call to combat injustice
    • Learned two things that impacted her view of poverty… 1 – Jesus said the poor would always be with us. It scared her because she was always told people who are poor want something. 2 – Jesus said what we do to the least of these we do for him. The fear was tempered by the idea that she could do something of significance with her life.
    • The passion was vague and wasn’t sure of her specific role.
    • 5 years ago, she learned about microfinance.
    • Microfinance is financial services for the poor.
    • She learned the power of a small loan.
    • She went to East Africa for 3 months to learn from entrepreneurs
    • Many microfinance banks serve those who have no collateral to get a loan and don’t have access to the same resources of the people aruund them.
    • There are thousands of MFI’s that are mission-driven, out there to alleviate poverty by not only giving people money but by empowering and training them.
    • She got obsessed with the stories that came out of success.
    • It’s a privilege to hear the stories.

    How Kiva.org Works

    • Lenders are everyday people with the internet and a credit card.
    • They can give small loans to entrepreneurs.
    • Profiles of entrepreneurs are posted by the lending services in the countries.
    • Lenders lend $25 or more over time and 100% of the money goes to the entrepreneur who pays it back (in about 9 months).
    • Average loan needed is about $500.
    • Average lender gives about $100.
    • Payment rate is 98.5%
    • Credit goes to the entrepreneurs and the microfinance enterprises that train them and set them up for success.
    • Every part of the process is viewed differently in different cultures.
    • They see it as money with purpose, with love and encouragement from other people who know their story and who are cheering them on.
    • When they know they are connected to the outside world it changes for them.

    Examples of Life-Change

    • There’s parents who can send their daughters to school. Or have enough money for their kids to have uniforms.
    • Many changes in health… better nutrition, access to medicine.
    • Better living conditions… mud hut to a home made of concrete and iron.
    • One family saved enough money for a lock for their door.
    • Women in East Africa were proud to have sugar to put in their tea to be better hostesses to their guests.
    • All are beautiful to see.

    Evolution of Kiva.org

    • In March of 2005 she found 7 friends in Ghana, took their pictures and recorded their stories and appealed to friends and family for help.
    • Began with 7 entrepreneurs and $3,000.
    • Launched in Oct 05
    • Do $5 million a month, over $85 million in less than four years.

    Leadership Issues

    • Kiva has a flat, decentralized leadership structure.
    • When you start as friends, you see everyone’s contribution as being important and valuable.
    • If you can perpetuate the culture it creates ownership… people see value in what they do.
    • Mutual respect develops when you know where everyone is coming from.
    • A culture of trust and extreme teamwork.
    • There are bosses… over 40 staff and 100′s of volunteers… there is structure and good management, but when you’re trust-based you get a lot more done.
    • A lot of time is focused on creating tools for  a broader community to create amazing things to do even greater good.
    • Their iPhone app was developed by volunteers.
    • If you believe in co-creation you have to give up control… of your brand and who you are.
    • We have a mission we always come back to… the what (to connect people) the how (through lending), the why (for poverty alleviation).
    • Mission sounds simple, but they make decisions against it all the time… it’s their guide.
    • If a company comes with lots of money and no humans behind it, void of connection, they turn the money down… it would take away from their mission.
    • Common purpose is the best way to build ….

    On Innovation

    • Innovation and entrepenurship are life-giving ideas.
    • Entrepreneurs create new life and new ideas.
    • if there’s anywhere innovaiton should be present, it should be in the Church.
    • That’s where life and revitalization should be coming from.
    • The chuch should be the safest place to come with the “what if” ideas.

    On Giving

    • Sacrificial giving is different than other giving because of the change that happens in the giver… you want the giving to have thought and intention behind it.
    • “Great poets show, they don’t tell.”
    • It’s not effective to TELL people why they should give… SHOW them, give them the opportunity and they will.

    Fears

    • There’s more to lose the bigger you get.
    • Don’t allow fear to stop you from taking bold chances.
    • Don’t be less nible or dynamic.
    • Try new things, pioneer.

    To Young Leaders

    • Just taking the first step is a big deal. You can talk about wanting to do something or having an idea, everything changes when you begin.
    • Don’t be afraid to start small. Biggest way to make a big impact is to start small.
    • Just start. Get going. You’ll learn more in the first few days of trying and experimenting than you will in the year before talking about it.

    To More Experienced Leaders…

    • Co-creating and collaboration create the best outcomes.
    • A dream team could be leaders with experience with inexperienced leaders.
    • No preconceived ideas of problems or solutions.
    • Be open to each other.

    Final Word to Leaders

    • What will really change the world is a change in mindset.
    • When we believe in the potential of each other, you don’t have to convince people to take actions that will solve problems and make things better.
    • Microfinance gives dignity and respect while creating connections between people, breaking the false dichotomies between rich and poor.